Farmers’ Union of Wales Announces Tir Dewi and Prostate Cymru as President’s Charities

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has announced that Tir Dewi and Prostate Cymru have been selected as the Union’s President’s charities for the 2026–2029 term, following the re-election of Ian Rickman as FUW President.

The announcement was made during the Wednesday evening function at the Royal Welsh Show, marking the beginning of a new three-year fundraising partnership with two Welsh charities supporting the health and wellbeing of farming communities.

The appointment follows nominations submitted by FUW county branches, with Tir Dewi and Prostate Cymru receiving strong support from across the Union during the selection process.

The two charities succeed the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, which served as the FUW President’s charity over the previous three years. During that period, the Union and its members raised £65,000 in support of the charity’s lifesaving work across Wales.

TIR DEWI

Tir Dewi provides free, confidential, bilingual support to farmers and their families across Wales, offering practical, emotional and preventative help when farming life becomes overwhelming. Through its 365-day-a-year bilingual helpline, one-to-one support, farm visits and community outreach, the charity supports more than 5,000 people annually, delivering over 11,000 hours of frontline support.

Working with a small team of permanent staff and more than 50 volunteers, Tir Dewi helps farming families facing a wide range of challenges, including bereavement, isolation, mental health issues, financial pressures, succession planning, regulatory change and family disputes. The charity has also seen demand for its services increase by 18% over the past six months, with increasingly complex cases requiring support.

FUW President Ian Rickman said: "I am honoured to select Tir Dewi and Prostate Cymru as my President's charities for the term ahead. Both organisations carry out invaluable work supporting the health and wellbeing of people across Wales, and I am delighted that the Union will be working alongside them over the next three years.

"Mental health remains one of the most significant challenges facing our farming communities, with many individuals and families dealing with increasing pressures. Tir Dewi provides an invaluable source of confidential support for those facing difficult circumstances, and I hope we can help raise both awareness of its services and vital funds for its work.

"At the same time, prostate cancer affects thousands of men and their families across Wales, making greater awareness and earlier diagnosis increasingly important. By supporting Prostate Cymru, we hope to shine a light on these issues while helping the charity continue its important work.

"I know our members will get behind both charities, and I look forward to seeing the difference we can make together over the coming years."

Janine Griffiths-Baker, CEO of Tir Dewi, said: "We are honoured to have been selected as one of the FUW President's charities. Farming families across Wales continue to face significant personal, financial and emotional pressures, and this partnership will help us reach more people who may be struggling in silence. Our Chairman, Peter Harlech Jones, joins me in expressing our sincere gratitude to the FUW and its members for their support. We look forward to working together over the next three years to raise awareness of the importance of wellbeing within our farming communities."

PROSTATE CYMRU

The Union will also support Prostate Cymru, a Welsh charity that works to raise awareness of prostate cancer and other prostate diseases, while supporting improvements in diagnosis, treatment and care for men across Wales.

The charity's appointment is particularly timely following the recent prostate cancer diagnoses of both FUW Regional Vice-Presidents, Alun Owen and Brian Bowen.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in Wales, with around one in eight men expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime. The partnership will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the condition alongside supporting the charity's work over the next three years.

FUW Regional Vice-President Alun Owen said: “Having recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and having undergone treatment, I am especially pleased to see the FUW supporting Prostate Cymru as one of its President's charities.

"I hope this partnership helps to raise awareness of prostate cancer and encourages more men in rural areas to speak to their GP about getting checked, whether they have symptoms or not. Early diagnosis can make a real difference, while this partnership will also support the invaluable work Prostate Cymru carries out for individuals and families across Wales.”

Tina Tew, Chief Executive of Prostate Cymru, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the FUW President's charities for the next three years. The farming community is at the heart of Wales, and this partnership presents an important opportunity to increase awareness of prostate cancer, encourage conversations about men's health and support efforts to improve outcomes for men across the country. We look forward to working alongside the FUW and its members throughout the partnership."

Announcing the charities, FUW President Ian Rickman said the selection reflected the priorities identified by the Union's county branches and the importance of supporting organisations making a tangible difference to farming families and rural communities across Wales.

Over the next three years, the FUW will work closely with both charities through fundraising events and awareness campaigns across Wales, helping to strengthen support for the physical and mental wellbeing of farming communities.